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The career of a Calgary school bus driver has been parked, at least with city’s public district, after she was caught on camera using a cellphone while transporting students.

Mark Tallack, whose 12-year-old son Tristan Papsdorf surreptitiously snapped the driver using her mobile device last week, said he’s been complaining about the situation since school began this fall at Harold Panabaker school, located at 23 Sackville Dr. S.W.

“He told us she was hanging on to the phone and talking and shielding it from the other students,” Tallack said, adding repeated complaints to First Student Canada resulted in a brief investigation that resulted in no real action.

After a growing trend of unscheduled stops, late pick ups and ongoing cell phone use with no apparent end in sight, he finally had his son take a photo to provide proof.

“He took the photo last week and then we sent it to his principal who then sent it to the head of transportation for the CBE (Calgary Board of Education,” Tallack said.

“As a parent you do everything you can to protect your child, but when stuff like this goes on you have that helpless feeling.”

Donna Crawford, the public board’s acting director of planning, transportation and environmental services, confirmed the unidentified driver will never again drive any CBE students after officials reviewed the photo.

“Our expectation is that drivers are driving in a way that’s safe and in accordance with the rules of the road,” she said.

“They should not be using a cellphone while they are driving.”

Crawford added she expects both bus companies employed by the CBE, First Student and Southland Transportation, will review the rules with their drivers “to remind them that this isn’t OK.”

First Student Canada spokesman Timothy Stokes said the driver will now meet with management to determine her fate.

“She will no longer be driving this route,” he said.

“We have a zero tolerance policy for using cellphones — we do find this unacceptable.”

Stokes confirmed there had been a previous investigation of the driver earlier this year following complaints, but it didn’t turn up any evidence of problems.

In 2007, nine-year-old Kathelynn Occena was killed after the Third Academy school bus she was on collided with a gravel truck parked on Crowchild Tr. near 17 Ave. S.W.

Prior to the deadly crash, several complaints were made that its driver, Louise Rogers, often used her cellphone while transporting students.

Rogers received the maximum fine for careless driving — $2,000 — and was also handed a 90-day suspension.

Public school bus driver fired for chatting on cellphone while transporting students

The career of a Calgary school bus driver has been parked, at least with city’s public district, after she was caught on camera using a cell phone while transporting students.

Mark Tallack, whose 12-year-old son Tristan Papsdorf surreptitiously snapped the driver using her mobile device last week, said he’s been complaining about the situation since school began this fall at Harold Panabaker school, located at 23 Sackville Dr. S.W.